Brekketechie Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 It’s the next 6 Week Challenge and I am glad to be back again with the Scouts! I need a little extra kick in the backside since I was in a total slump over the Bye-Weeks. This will be my only 6 Week Challenge of the summer as I will be leaving for India 4 days after the challenge ends. So, I’ve got to make it COUNT. Some background for those joining me for the first time: I got sick in January with a mysterious abdominal illness. The short story is that I had surgery in February, but still have a wonky stomach which results in random pains that can last anywhere from 30 minutes to days and days. This has put a HUGE cramp in my workout schedule. Lifting weights had to go by the wayside. But I discovered that I love running. I’m slow (about a 12ish minute mile on a good day), but I enjoy it. And, it generally doesn’t aggravate my abdominal muscles the way lifting has in the past. In the big picture of things, I want to start training for a half-marathon when I get back from India, so I am looking at this 6 Week Challenge as setting up good habits and a nice strength and stamina base that will both aid me in my traveling and in getting me prepped to start more serious training for the Half Marathon. With all of that in mind, here are my three Focus Goals for this challenge: Run For Your Life: Running 2 miles or more 3x a week (+2 STA)This has a caveat attached to it: if running isn’t possible for some reason (my right ankle has been feeling a little wonky lately, so I’m watching it) I can sub in brisk walks of the same distance. Running 3x week = ARunning 2x week= B> than 2x week = F Build A Strong Body: Weight and Stretch Routine 2x Week (+2 STR, +2DEX)This will be a true challenge for me for 2 reasons: 1. this requires me to workout 5 times in a week which has in the past been really challenging for my schedule and 2. To find and stick to a solid stretching routine. I stretch regularly, but it’s rather lackadaisical and I think that could be related to pain I’m feeling in my lower back and right ankle. Weights & Stretch 2x week = AWeights & Stretch 1x week = B>1 (0) = F Eat To Live: Avoid Processed Sugars, Grains, Junk Food, Alcohol and Soda (+2 CON)The Bye Weeks saw me indulge more than I needed in sweets. My office is FULL of treats (I work with college students and it’s exam season) – we have trays of doughnuts as exam break snacks, a candy jar, and a freezer full of ice cream. These are not only bad for my health and weight loss goals, but they tend to trigger my stomach pain. So, I will be avoiding them by working to cut them out of my diet. However, I know that I am human, which is why I am giving myself 7 sins each week. The 7 sins go toward a single serving of a prohibited food (like chips, or a fun-sized piece of candy). If what I’m eating is more than a single serving, it’s however many “sins†that are in what I’m eating (so if a bowl of ice cream is 3 servings portions, it’s 3 sins). This will allow me to indulge on occasion without guilt. The hope is that I never use all 7 sins in a week, but that I do have allowances for the occasional scoop of ice cream or glass of wine. This will be measured on a Pass/Fail Basis. 7 sins or Less in a Week = P> than 7 Sins in a Week = F Life Quests: Wordsmith Reads, Wordsmith Writes (+1 WIS, +1 CHA)I have two Life Quests that will also be part of my 6 Week Challenge. They are both centered on reading and writing. The first goal is to finish reading 3 books over the course of this next 6 Weeks. This won’t be hard as I’m halfway through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part of a Harry Potter Re-read), and the Memoir Eat and Run by ultramarathoner Scott Jurek. Finishing both of these will count toward the 3 book goal. 3 Books Read = A2 Books Read = B>2 Books = F The second goal is to revise a minimum of 3 chapters of the novel that I’ve written and send them to at least 2 external reviewers for feedback over this 6 Week Challenge. I’ve revised 2 chapters already, so I should have minimum of 5 revised chapters by the end of the Challenge. I have one volunteer external reviewer, I have to confirm another. I need to be accountable to this writing process if I’m ever going to be ready to pitch to an agent. 3 Chapters Revised and Sent = A2 Chapters Revised and Sent = B>2 Chapters Revised and Sent = F There are some Overarching Goals that I have for this 6 Week Challenge:- Log 30 miles of running (or brisk walking should I be injured) for the month of June- Lose 3 lbs by the end of the Challenge (slow and stead)- Lose ½ inch or more off my waist- Have dedicated readers for my revised chapters set up to keep me accountable for finishing my major revisions- Do a purge of junk from my house and work toward minimalism (except for books, because that’s impossible for me)- Regularly walk over 7000 steps as tracked by my fitbit These won’t be graded, but are additional guides and goals to help keep me on track toward my 6 Week Goals and my bigger Life Goals. So, fellow rebels, these are my goals. Every step forward is a step in the right direction. 6 months ago I was in the hospital in so much pain I could hardly walk. Now I’m contemplating running a half marathon. I want to keep moving forward, leveling up my life, and being the most awesome version of me that I can be. Let’s Crush It! 3 Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
fearlesscreek Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 hello!im in a very similar situation and will follow closely as you crush your goals! 1 Quote BE FEARLESSLY YOURSELF! current challenge: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/71119-fearless-creek-the-flab-fighter-diaries-20/ Link to comment
noxiousGnome Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Mm the purge. Must do that sometime... Specially if we move 1 Quote Gnomish Superhero-In-Training S3|D3|S1|C3|W4.75|CH3Gnomish Trials and Tribulations1|2(a)|3|4Gnomes Have Epic Quests Too! This gets updated as things get finished or I add more =D Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Day 1 Review: Run: nopeStrength/Stretch: nopeSins: I had a glass of sangria at dinner (I was on a date...)Reading: about 40% through HP7.Writing: nope I'll do a weigh-in and measurements in the next couple of days. Cheers! Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Day 2 morning update: Went for a run and.... pulled a muscle. This happened in my first Challenge back in September. So I walked. Only 1.7 miles, but I'm counting it. And will probably be on a walking restriction for the next week (at least). This is super frustrating as I stretched before I went out. I'm going to take a quick shower then ice my calf before going in to work. Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
shaar Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 YES YES SUBBED FOR THE CHEERS!!Hope your leg muscle gets un-cranky fast! 1 Quote i am not waiting for a hero. i saved myself long ago. Level 58 Bard & Monk of the Furious Heart STR.55 DEX.43 STA.48 CON.51 WIS.53 CHA.65 "Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...But that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 YES YES SUBBED FOR THE CHEERS!!Hope your leg muscle gets un-cranky fast! I feel like it's down to you and me from our original SkullCruchers accountability group! But injuries be damned, you and will crush ALL our Challenges! 1 Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
shaar Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 I feel like it's down to you and me from our original SkullCruchers accountability group! But injuries be damned, you and will crush ALL our Challenges!SURVIVORS!!!OMG, the Skullcrushers, that was the very first accountability group I ever joined... and look how far we have come!!Forever crushing those skulls [emoji178] [emoji109] 1 Quote i am not waiting for a hero. i saved myself long ago. Level 58 Bard & Monk of the Furious Heart STR.55 DEX.43 STA.48 CON.51 WIS.53 CHA.65 "Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...But that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Link to comment
bgvanbur Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 That sucks about the pulled muscle. Just focus more on the other goals as it heals 1 Quote Level 26, Primal Ultra Trail Scout, Non-Binary Robot Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 SURVIVORS!!!OMG, the Skullcrushers, that was the very first accountability group I ever joined... and look how far we have come!!Forever crushing those skulls [emoji178] [emoji109] SKULLCRUSHERS FOREVER!!! That sucks about the pulled muscle. Just focus more on the other goals as it heals Yeah, this exact pull happened in my first Challenge but was WAY worse because I was a knuckle-head and kept running on it. So I'm going to take a break form running for at least a week (probably two) and ice it every day. I might incorporate some gentle walks after few days, but we'll see. I already walk about a mile each way to work. It's just bloody annoying to have this happen in Week 1. But we regroup and keep pressing forward 1 Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 Day 2 Review Run: yeah, a bit short but I'm counting itStrength/Stretch: nopeSins: 2! I had a sympathy cookie in the morning after my pulled muscle, and then later in the afternoon a student who's graduation brought me dark chocolate almond brittle. How can you say no? But I did share it around with the rest of my office to lessen the temptation for seconds.Reading: yep - 2 more chapters down of HP7.Writing: nope I did above and beyond my walking goal for today and as of 10pm I'm at 11,811 steps! W00T! Still pretty nettled about pulling my muscle on DAY 2! But, all I can do is take it as it is and go form here as best I can. I've definitely been through worse. Onward rebels! Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 Day 3 morning update: Got in a strength and stretch routine! Upper Body3x7 Overhead Press (20 lbs) ---> Maxed 10 reps3x7 Dumbbell rows (20lbs) ---> maxed 10 reps3x7 Bicep curls (20 lbs) 3x7 Hammer curls (20 lbs) ---> maxed 10 reps3x20 marching high knees - since I can't jump or run because of the pulled calf muscle Spent 20 minutes stretching - downward dog, cat and cow, pigeon and some ballet stretches. All gentle and trying not to aggravate my calf further. Tomorrow I'm going t do an ab routine and stretching. Hopefully I'll be right as rain by this time next week! Plan for tonight is to revise a chapter of my novel - let's hope the work day doesn't wear me out too completely. 2 Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
fearlesscreek Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 go girl!!! sounds awesome! and get better soon. 1 Quote BE FEARLESSLY YOURSELF! current challenge: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/71119-fearless-creek-the-flab-fighter-diaries-20/ Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2015 go girl!!! sounds awesome! and get better soon. Thanks! I'm afraid I'm going to need all the healing vibes I can get! Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2015 Day 3 review: Run: nope - medical passStrength/Stretch: yep - upper body routine with stretchingSins: 1, I had a doughnut - failed to resist the exam-break snacks!Reading: YEAS - finished Harry Potter 7. All the freaking tears!Writing: nope - planned to but my rubbish stomach got in the way EDIT: Steps for today: 9852 My rubbish stomach (warning, TMI below)So I have this undiagnosed stomach illness that's been plaguing me since December. I *think* it's IBS but my GI doctor is completely unhelpful so I have no idea. But, I have these random waves of what I call "5 alarm pain" that just come form nowhere. All my musicals tighten, and I vomit up undigested food. Unlike being sick form an illness, there is NO stomach bile - non of the stuff that makes it smell or anything. Just undigested food and a LOT of stomach pain. It lasts usually 3 hours, although it's lasted as long as 5. This happened today. I felt pretty good - my pulled muscle not withstanding - all day. Ate mostly healthy: same morning smoothie, a salad for lunch, a doughnut (that I've had on previous occasions), and a frozen Annie's dinner (which is rare for me, I don't like frozen food). Then about an hour after dinner - WHAM. All the pain. There was some fullness before dinner that I thought was from the late afternoon doughnut indulgence, but now I'm thinking that it was indicating that my stomach wasn't processing my food fast enough. i don't know, but I'm bloody well tired of these waves of intense pain and vomiting and doctors not having any clues. It's rubbish. I need some freaking answers.*deep breath* I'm tired. My stomach and ab muscles hurt. I feel rotten. Tomorrow needs to be better. I don't want to have my Challenge derailed this early in the game. Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
shaar Posted June 11, 2015 Report Share Posted June 11, 2015 Hugs hugs hugs.I'm so sorry you are still dealing with this. The most frustrating thing in the world...Don't let it get in your head. Meditate, chill, have a nice long stretching session. This is a big test and you can totally overcome it. You are a strong lady and we are all here to cheer for you when times get hard!![emoji178] [emoji178] [emoji178] [emoji178] [emoji178] [emoji178] 1 Quote i am not waiting for a hero. i saved myself long ago. Level 58 Bard & Monk of the Furious Heart STR.55 DEX.43 STA.48 CON.51 WIS.53 CHA.65 "Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...But that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Link to comment
fearlesscreek Posted June 11, 2015 Report Share Posted June 11, 2015 oh that sounds awful. get better soon! and get yourself a doc that nows what he/she is doing!!!! Quote BE FEARLESSLY YOURSELF! current challenge: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/71119-fearless-creek-the-flab-fighter-diaries-20/ Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2015 Day 4 review: Run: nope - medical passStrength/Stretch: some light stretching and lots of icing my legSins: None today!Reading: Yeah, I borrowed Twilight as a ebook form my library; no offense to fan but the writing is atrocious. I don't know if that's encouraging or not in my own writing effortsWriting: nope - pretty exhausted most of todaySteps: as of 10pm 3387 - again, mostly rested all day Stomach much better. Still treading cautiously on the food front, but I was able to digest everything alright. Lots to d tomorrow so I need to be in tip-top shape! (I still maintain that Harry Potter is infinitely better) 1 Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
shaar Posted June 12, 2015 Report Share Posted June 12, 2015 Oh god I bought the first Twilight book and I am forever embarrassed, it is SOOOOOO BAD 2 Quote i am not waiting for a hero. i saved myself long ago. Level 58 Bard & Monk of the Furious Heart STR.55 DEX.43 STA.48 CON.51 WIS.53 CHA.65 "Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...But that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2015 Oh god I bought the first Twilight book and I am forever embarrassed, it is SOOOOOO BAD I tried,I really did.... but I just could not. Like after 2 dates they're both like "you're my everything" WHAT?!? Nonsense. So maybe I have a shot of publishing.... 1 Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2015 Day 5 Mid-day Update: Y'all I am determined not to give up. This morning = tentatively drinking a smoothie to see how thats stays down. So far so good. I had yogurt and blueberries for lunch, so hoping that my stomach has settled back down. Very light stretching followed by icing my pulled muscle. Apparently, Target doesn't care ace bandages, only disposable medical tape stuff. WTF? I just want a re-usable ace bandage? So I settled on using a tea-towel to tie the icepack to my calf. Totally McGyver-rigged. I have a HUGE event this afternoon that I need to be alert for. One of my coworkers knocked over & destroyed my ginger beer (accidentally but I'm still grumpy about it) so I don't have that as a back up plan for an unsettled stomach. But - I shall not give up! I'm going to do an upper body lifting routine again tomorrow (still resting my poor abs). And then, all going well, abs on Sunday. No giving up! McGyver! 2 Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
fearlesscreek Posted June 13, 2015 Report Share Posted June 13, 2015 love love to check your thread... you get to see great legs, mc gyver and all sorts of heroic tales!!! haha 1 Quote BE FEARLESSLY YOURSELF! current challenge: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/71119-fearless-creek-the-flab-fighter-diaries-20/ Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2015 Day 6 Morning Update: Got a Strength & Stretch in this morning. Going to do an Ab routine tomorrow as long as everything goes well. I'm not giving up, illness and injury be damned. Upper Body3x7 Overhead Press (20 lbs) ---> Maxed 10 reps3x7 Dumbbell rows (20lbs) ---> maxed 10 reps3x7 Bicep curls (20 lbs) --> maxed 10 reps3x7 Hammer curls (20 lbs) ---> maxed 10 reps3x30 marching high knees -- muscle still tender, trying not to prolong the pull by over-working it Stretching routine: downward dog, cat-cow, pigeon, and various ballet stretches, including a few deep stretches with a scarf. So my personal dreamboat (stealing the title from Shaarway) is Sam Heughan. As a ginger (even though he's naturally blond). Because Scottish, lumberjack gingers are LIFE. Also, when I was 16 and visiting the motherland (my grandmother's family immigrated from the Highlands) I saw the handsomest man ever in a pub in Edinburgh and I've been in love with lumberjack gingers ever since. I Am Ready. Yes, Jamie, I am. Onward! Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2015 love love to check your thread... you get to see great legs, mc gyver and all sorts of heroic tales!!! haha Aw, cheers! Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
Brekketechie Posted June 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2015 RECAPS! Day 5: Run: nope - medical passStrength/Stretch: light stretching and icing my legSins: I had a cookie, because was having feels. 1.Reading: read Vivian Van Velde's Companions of the Night, YA about Vampires before Twilight ruined everything.Writing: nope - feeling a little out of itSteps: 9511 Day 6Run: medical pass stillStrength/Stretch: YEAS. Upper Body strength routine and stretching; about to ice my leg again.Sins: 2 - I was at a graduation party and there was NO vegetarian food aside for chips and cheesecake (everything - including the salad - had meat, boo). I had a serving of chips and a serving of cheesecake.Reading: flew through Vivian Van Velde's Dragon's Bait - I remember reading this like 15 years ago and loving it. It still holds up even if it's really short.Writing: nope, still out of the mood. Got to get in the groove.Steps: only 5127 so far Going to veg with either a new book or a film. I LOVE my new library. New summer hangout spot, for sure. *happy face* I'll post my measurements asap. They're the same as the end of the last challenge, so that's pretty easy. 1 Quote Level 7 Valkyrie Scout STR 8 | DEX 7 | STA 10 | CON 7.5 | WIS 13 | CHA 12 Challenges: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thBattle Log "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot Link to comment
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